Stamp-affixing device.



A. HALL.

STAMP AFFIXING DEVICE. v

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16, 1911.

1 946,292,, v Patented Dec. 3, 1912.

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- accompanying drawing,

package by a single blow or stroke.

ALFRED HALL, OF LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA,

ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THERE T0 WILLIAM M. WHITTEN, OF DORCHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

STAMP- AFFIXING DEVICE.

Specification 01 Letters Patent.

Patentedfiec, 3, 1912.

Application filed Jane 16, 1911. Serial No. 633,471.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED Hanna citizen of the United States, and resident of Los Gatos, county of Santa Clara, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Stamp-Afiixing Devices, of which'the following description, in connection wit-h the is a specification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts. i

This invention relates to astamp 'aifixing device, and its obgect 1s to; provide a device of this character of simple and efiicient co'nstruction, by means of which the stamps will be properly moistened, separated from a rolled strip and applied to the envelop or The device is so constructed that the roll of stamps may be lockedwithin the casing to guard against theft or unauthorized removal of. the stamps.

The device is particularly adapted for handling a rolled strip of stamps, in which the several stamps are separated by rows of perforations. v

The nature of the invention will more fully appear from the accompanying drawings and description, and will be particularly pointed out in the appended cl aims.

The drawings represent a preferred form of device embodying the invention.

In the drawings: Figure l is a side eleva tion with the casing cover removed, of the entire device, with certain parts shown in vertical cross section. Fig. 2-is a vertical cross section of the deviceshown in Fig. 1, taken through the axis of the stamp roll support, but with the mechanism. of the interior of the casing shown in end elevation. Fig.3 is a plan View of the cross section taken on the line X-X of Fig. 1. Fig. 4: is a detailed view.

The device comprises a generally rectangular metallic casing comprising the body part 1, and acover part 2, the cover partbeing a generally flat plate fitting against the body part. In the construction shown the body part along one edge is formed with lugs 01' projections 3, and the cover part, along the corresponding edge, is formed with ears or flanges 4, adapted to fit over the lugs 3. At the opposite edge the body part carries a suitable locking device 5,

cooperating with a complementary locking device 6 on the cover part,so that upon unfeedin g claw, support for the roll I ward end a tank,

adjacent locking parts 5 and 6 the cover may be entirely removed, so that when the cover is in place and locked it cannot be removed, and access is prevented to the contents of the casing. The only opening into the cas mg when the cover is in place is the rectangular opening 7 at the bottom,.of the size of the stamp, and through which the stamp is discharged on to the envelop.

The main elements of the device contained within the casing are the reciprocating plunger moistening device, including the tank for supplying moisture, the guide table over which the strip of stamps is fed to the moistening device, the feeding claw by means of which the strip of stamps is fed forward, the connections between the feeding claw and the plunger for operating the former, cam guides for controlling the movement of the of stamps, and the guides-for determining the course of the strip of stamps, and the means for severing the moistened stamp from the strip.

The roll of stamp strips is shown at S, mounted upon a support 9, shown as a pin projecting from the face of and riveted to the wall of the body part of the casing, so

that when the cover is removed the roll may be placed on or removed from the support 9.

At the bottom of the casing a tank '10 is provided, and is shown as a flat tank comletely covering the'bo-ttom of the casing and held in place thereon by having formed in its bot-tom a groove by means of which it may he slid on and off of a rib 11 formed on the bottom of the casing, so that when thebe removed cover 2 is removed thetank may at its forif necessary. This tank carries through an opening at the top and for-war end of the tank. The water may be supplied to the tank from the outside of the casing through a tube 12, which is closed by the screw plug 13.

A guide table, 14;, supported upon the shaft 15 is pivoted to the casing above'the and with its upper surface substanof the end of the wick 120. The rear end of the tank is depressed so that this guide table may swing about its pivot to raise the end of the guide table to the wick. The cross section of the guide table 14 may be seen in Fig. :2, and therefrom it appears. that it is provided with inturned edges 16, and a raised.

tially in the plane flatwick 120, which projects up central rib 17, so that the stamp strip is supported iipon this rib .17 and is guided at its edges by the inturned edges 16'. The stamp strip as it comes from the roll 8 passes over suitably located'idler rolls 18, secured to the bodyand covering of the casing and is directed therefrom on to the guide table 14. The stamp strip is fed over the guide table and over the wick beneath the plunger by a feeding claw 19, shown in Figs. Land 2. This feeding claw is provided at -its lower. edge with teeth adapted to catch in the perforations between successive stamps, and to insure this being done the teeth are staggered in the plane of the claw slightly, as indicated in Fig. 1, and are spaced to straddle the central rib 17. -Means.

' are provided for giving the feed claw precisely the requisite forward feeding movement to feed the strip the length of. a single stamp, and to prevent the "action of the feedingclaw upon the strip at other times' For this purpose the feeding claw is pivoted at 20 to a carrier 21. During the forward movement of the carrier to feed the strip the upper end 22 of the feeding claw engages the carrier with an adjustable screw 23 mounted therein, by means of which the claw may be adjusted, but during the opposite movement the claw will swing about its pivot upon engagement with the'st'amp strip and have no effectthereupon. In the construction shown the feeding claw is operated .by the movement of the plunger which severs the stamp from the strip and afiixes it to the envelop. This plunger is shown at 2 k as mounted to reciprocate in the vertical guides at the forward end of the casing. Anti-friction rolls are provided, being mounted in the casing and engaging the plunger. At its lower end the plunger is shaped to correspond with the size of the stamp and to move through the. aperture 7. The plunger carries on its lower face a metallic plate 26,

presenting a rear cutting or shearing edge 27, and the forward upper edge of the tank is provided with a cooperating shear edge 28, so that as the plunger descends the edges 27 and 28 coiiperating will shear the stamp to meet the plunger from the stri of stamps. The plunger is depressed by a low of the hand upon the knob 29, and is elevated by the helical spring 30 connected to the casing,

vand an arm' 31 projecting rearwardly out.

from the plunger. The feeding movement of the feeding claw 19 is obtained from the plunger by connecting the carrier 21 pivot ally at 32 to the end of the arm 31, and pro viding means for directing the movement of the lower end of the carrier. This means comprises cam guides 33 secured the one-to the body and the other to the cover of the casing above and atieach side of the. guide table '14. The carrier is mounted transversely thereon at 34. Rol1's 35 ride upon noeaaea the upper cam edges of the cam guides 33,

and these edges are so formed that as the plunger descends the carrier guided thereby will bring the feeding claw into engagement with the perforations between the stamps and move forward in a horizontal plane,

feeding the, strip exactly the length of one tions comes over the shearmg edge 28, when rise 3.6 of the cam guide will cause the elevastamp, or until a preceding row of perforation of the carrier, removing the feeding claw from the strip and stopping the feeding movement of the strip so that upon the continued depression of the plunger to sever the stamp and apply it to the enve1o,'the movement. of the carrier will be ine ective to feed the stamp. The weight ofthe carrier 21 and the feeding claw being comparathe rolls 35 being held in contact with the 'tively slight, it may be advisable to insure cam guides 33 by means of a spring, and.

is provided with a finger 38 engagedby a 2 catch 39 to lock it in operative position marked On or allow it to be turned into inoperative position marked Off-on the casing. v

The invention having been fully described,

what is new and desired to be. secured by Letters Patent, is: a

- 1. A' stamp afiixing-device comprising a reciprocating plunger, a support for a roll of perforated stamps, a moistening device, a guide table in proximity to and adapted to guide the strip of stamps over the moistening device, a feeding claw and means operated upon depression of the plunger tomove the feeding claw and feed the strip over the guide table and over the moistening device and beneath the plunger, and means for elevating the guide .table adjacent to the moistening device to lift the stamp strip from the moistening device when desired.

2. A stamp affixing device comprislng a perforated stamps, a moistening device, guiding means for directingv the strip of stamps from the roll over the moistening dereciprocating plunger, a support for a roll of vice, a feeding claw adapted toengage the perforations in the strip, a carrier forsaid feeding claw, cam guides adapted to control the movement of the carrier, connections between said carricr and said plunger whereby upon depression of the plunger. the carrier will be nioved along said cam guides to cause the feeding claw to engage the perfoi will be moved rations of the stamp strip, feed the strip the length of a single stamp and then be removed from engagement therewith.

3. A stamp afiixing device comprising. a reciprocating plunger, a support for a roll of perforated stamps, a moistening device, a guide table having one end in proximity to and adapted to guide the strip .of stamps over the moistening device and mounted on a transverse pivot means for rocking the guide table on its pivot to elevate the end of the guide table adjacent the moistening device and thus lift the stamp strip from the moistening device when desired and meansoperated from or by said plunger to feed the strip over the guide table and. over the moistening device and beneath the plunger.

4. A stamp afiixing device comprising a reciprocatin plunger, a support for a roll, of perforate-'1 stamps, a inoistening device, a guide table having one end in proximity to and adapted to guide the strip of stamps over the moistening device and mounted on a transverse pivot, a feeding claw and means operated on depression of the plunger to move the feeding claw and feed the strip over the guide table and over the moistening device and beneath the plunger, and means for rocking the guide table on its pivot to elevate the end of the guide table adjacent the moistening device and thus lift the stamp strip from the moisteningdevice when desired.

5.- A stamp attixing'device comprising a reciprocating plunger, a support for a roll of perforated stamps, a moistening device, guiding 'means for directing the strip of stamps from the roll over the moistening device, cam guides extending longitudinally of said guiding means, a carrier riding on said can guides and pivotally connected to said plunger with its path of movement between the stamp affixing face of theplunger and said pivot, and a feeding claw yieldingly mounted in said carrier and adapted, to engage the perforations in the strip, whereby upon depression of the plunger the carrier along said cam guides to cause the feeding claw to engage the perfoguid ng means,

reciprocating plunger, a

rations of the stamp strip, feed the strip the length of a single stamp, and then be removed from engagement there 'ith during the stamp afixin movementof the plunger.

6. A stamp aii'xing device comprising a reciprocating plunger, a support for a 1'0 of perforated stamps, a nioistening' device, guiding means for directing the strip of stamps from the roll-over the in'oistening device, an arm extending from the plunger above and over said guiding means, cam guides extending longitudinally of said a carrier riding on said cam guides and pivotally connected to the end of said'arm, a feeding claw yieldingly mounted on said carrier and adapted to engage the perforations in the strip, whereby upon depression of the plunger the carrier will be moved along said cam guides to cause the feeding claw to engage the perforations of the stamp strip, feed the strip the length of a single stamp, and then be removed from engagement therewith during the stamp affixing movement of the plunger.

7.. A stamp affixing,device-comprising a support for a roll of perforated stamps,'a moistening device, guiding means for directing the strip of stamps from the roll over the moistening device, cam guides extending longitudinally of said guiding means, a carrier riding on said cam guides and pivotally connected to said plunger. with its path of movement between the stamp aflixing face of the plunger and said pivot, and a feeding claw yieldingly mounted in said carrier and adapted to engage the perforations in the strip, said parts and their connections being disposed syncmetrically With respect to a central, longitudinal, vertical plane, whereby the action is ositive and lost motion is prevented.

In testimony whereof, Ihave signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALFRED- HALL.

vi itnesses lVILLIAM M. .VVHITTEN, THOMAS J .1- DRUMMOND.

Copies of this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). 0. 

